Katyusha and Zastava

[Two Dobes]

@JanS "but I still call people that age a girl." I do too!!!! @Katyusharocket CONGRATS!!!! What a great weekend, and I love what the judge said about people not living those moments with their dogs....It is such a blessing & bonding experience to get them out and do companion sports with them!

 

[Ravenbird]

I forgot to ask, did you get any photos of nose work or confo?

 

[Katyusharocket]

I forgot to ask, did you get any photos of nose work or confo?

I got one of conformation, still waiting for the nosework ones to be presented.

Initially, I wasn't going to share the conformation one here, because, when I look at it, I can tell that i am making Z very uncomfortable, but i will post it, maybe if you don't live with her you might not notice? Anyways, here she is....

 

[Ravenbird]

She's a beautiful girl - I don't think *you* are making her uncomfortable but more likely she's in that "what the heck are we doing here and why this leading around stuff????" My overly confident girl looks like this when I get her totally out of her element, so I feel ya. I'll bet she didn't look uncomfortable in the nose work, right? Most of those showing confo start early and take them to shows and just hang around all the chaos so the puppy grows up thinking it's no big deal. If Asha has a job to do she is not worried about the surroundings, but if it's anything else, she is wishing she was anywhere else.

Anyway, beautiful Z thank you for sharing!

 

[Katyusharocket]

I'll bet she didn't look uncomfortable in the nose work, right?

You're spot-on, she didnt! We had more time to prepare for nosework, I didn't decide on conformation until one day before.

- I don't think *you* are making her uncomfortable but more likely she's in that "what the heck are we doing here and why this leading around stuff????"

I could have worded that differently. Maybe more like "she was smelling a river of cortisol running out of my skin" would have been a better way to say it? I've had crippling stage fright since my earliest memory of a stage, and this was front and center for me, and I'm sure she smelled it or sensed it. There's no way she didn't.

If Asha has a job to do she is not worried about the surroundings, but if it's anything else, she is wishing she was anywhere else.

She definitely knows what the word "search " means . Search means birch means cheese at this point, and cheese is the endgame

Anyway, beautiful Z thank you for sharing!

Thank you for the compliment! Happy to share in this community.

 

[JanS]

I've had crippling stage fright since my earliest memory of a stage, and this was front and center for me, and I'm sure she smelled it or sensed it. There's no way she didn't.

Oh tell me about it. My first time in the conformation ring was terrifying and I think it's the same for everyone, but you get a bit more relaxed as time goes on.

 

[Ddski5]

I got one of conformation, still waiting for the nosework ones to be presented.

Initially, I wasn't going to share the conformation one here, because, when I look at it, I can tell that i am making Z very uncomfortable, but i will post it, maybe if you don't live with her you might not notice? Anyways, here she is....
View attachment 154031

You were spot on and she looks great.

 

[Aaron56]

I got one of conformation, still waiting for the nosework ones to be presented.

Initially, I wasn't going to share the conformation one here, because, when I look at it, I can tell that i am making Z very uncomfortable, but i will post it, maybe if you don't live with her you might not notice? Anyways, here she is....
View attachment 154031

Anything you share here is welcome and tends to help me learn and grow to be a better Doberman owner.

That is a good thing in my opinion.

 

[remy]

Congratulations on your successful weekend! I haven’t been as active here so I was catching up on your thread and was excited to see you trialing and trying out conformation!

 

[Katyusharocket]

I forgot to ask, did you get any photos of nose work or confo?

We still are waiting for nosework photos. The event was May 3 and 4, so well over 2 months now. I'm not feeling impatient, as much as disinterested at this point, though, knowing myself, that could change when I do eventually see them.

I took Zastava to one of her vet's farms just out of town last evening so she could meet horses ahead of her Farm Dog Certified tests in August. It went really well. She was really nervous about the vet's Great Dane the whole time, which didn't help when meeting the horses. She verbally lashed out at the horses initially, but after a minute she was play bowing to them and watching me feed them carrots and pet their heads. At one point, the horses were on either side of me, with their heads in front of me and between me and Zastava, and I could tell she was not exactly approving that situation (like any Doberman new to horses wouldn't). After another minute, one of the horses put his head down to her and she licked it on it's nose. Decided to end the familiarization session on a high note there (plus I was out of carrots but the horses didn't believe me). We will go back in a couple weeks, and I think it will go really well. I will try to get pics next time.

 

[JanS]

We still are waiting for nosework photos. The event was May 3 and 4, so well over 2 months now

Don't feel bad, we're still waiting for the ones from last July. LOL I can't remember for sure but it may have been the same photographer in Bemidji last year and nothing from there either.

I'm not feeling impatient, as much as disinterested at this point, though, knowing myself, that could change when I do eventually see them.

I became pretty disinterested too when it starts getting to be way after the fact.

It went really well.

That's great to hear!

 

[Ravenbird]

I took Zastava to one of her vet's farms just out of town last evening so she could meet horses

Sounds like a great experience and with another visit it will become a non-event for her! Good that you had a place to take her!

Photos can be such a bummer waiting on... I don't seem to have that problem as there is rarely a photographer at any of the events I go to. If we don't hand our phone over to somebody, it just doesn't happen. Five day cluster and one photographer and always in the show ring, not ever in the obedience/rally ring. Although there was one in the fast cat where I had a choice of 1 photo. OK, rant over. Best to you on your Farm Dog experience!

 

[JanS]

there is rarely a photographer at any of the events I go to.

There is going to be a photographer there but I think she's only doing mini shoots after the fact. I will be there too but it's tough to get photos for that when you need to stay out of the testing area.

 

[Katyusharocket]

I don't seem to have that problem as there is rarely a photographer at any of the events I go to

I've only been to one event so far, with our next one being this coming weekend, with Zastava set for nosework and potentially conformation, but at our first event there was a photographer for each event. There is also something in the UKC rules that if there is a sanctioned photographer on hand, one better not be trying to take photos. Double edged sword for me. I would love to get some phone snaps but also my daughter was the photographer for dash and steeplechase, and made some good money selling her photos. No idea what the photographer set up will be for this weekends show.

 

[Ravenbird]

in the UKC rules that if there is a sanctioned photographer on hand, one better not be trying to take photos.

Usually this applies only to other people who take photos to sell them to the dog team. I don't ***think*** it would apply to a family/friend taking photos of you and your dog for personal use. Might double check with the show manager beforehand. But basically the "official" show photographer should not have competition for taking photos to sell.

 

[JanS]

Usually this applies only to other people who take photos to sell them to the dog team. I don't ***think*** it would apply to a family/friend taking photos of you and your dog for personal use.

I think you're right on that. I usually bring a camera and take ringside photos and no one has ever said anything to me. I make it a point to tell the photographers that I will not post them for 3 - 4 weeks so they have their chance to get them up and sell them, even though they didn't ask. The thing that kills me is when people use the photographer's backdrop to take their own win photos when that's part of why they (the photographers) are there with their expensive equipment.

@Katyusharocket this upcoming show will have 2 photographers there. One I'm not familiar with and the other one is excellent.

 

[Ddski5]

We still are waiting for nosework photos. The event was May 3 and 4, so well over 2 months now. I'm not feeling impatient, as much as disinterested at this point, though, knowing myself, that could change when I do eventually see them.

I took Zastava to one of her vet's farms just out of town last evening so she could meet horses ahead of her Farm Dog Certified tests in August. It went really well. She was really nervous about the vet's Great Dane the whole time, which didn't help when meeting the horses. She verbally lashed out at the horses initially, but after a minute she was play bowing to them and watching me feed them carrots and pet their heads. At one point, the horses were on either side of me, with their heads in front of me and between me and Zastava, and I could tell she was not exactly approving that situation (like any Doberman new to horses wouldn't). After another minute, one of the horses put his head down to her and she licked it on it's nose. Decided to end the familiarization session on a high note there (plus I was out of carrots but the horses didn't believe me). We will go back in a couple weeks, and I think it will go really well. I will try to get pics next time.

I would have liked to watch this in real time. Knowing what I know on Dobermans and zero knowledge on horses, to see it unfold would be amazing.
Are horses generally acceptable to strangers? Do they react differently from humans to animals?

 

[Katyusharocket]

I would have liked to watch this in real time. Knowing what I know on Dobermans and zero knowledge on horses, to see it unfold would be amazing.
Are horses generally acceptable to strangers? Do they react differently from humans to animals?

I know nothing about horses, either, or very little. I guess i knew enough to ask the owner if I could bring them carrots or apples. I am kind of kicking myself for not getting video of the encounter, but on the other hand, doing so under the circumstances would definitely have watered down the attention I was able to lend to Z as it unfolded. I would say she needed a lot of reassurance during the meeting.

As far as your question about horses and humans, I don't know a solid answer, but I gathered, by asking questions, that it can vary widely by individual horse, and, much like dogs, depends on the level of socialization they live with? These two horses saw us enter the pasture and came running, they looked very excited to get some attention and pets. But I don't know that other horses are that way. They weren't afraid of dogs at all, that was clear! But then again, there are 2 big dogs living on the property. As we walked away from them, I asked if they can get separation anxiety like dogs do and the owner seemed to say that they can, and that is why she has a pair of them. These two were great and I definitely look forward to meeting them again.
I hope @JanS And @MyBuddy can chime in with some of their experiences, as well as any others who have had horses that I may have forgotten or not known.

 

[MyBuddy]

As far as your question about horses and humans, I don't know a solid answer, but I gathered, by asking questions, that it can vary widely by individual horse, and, much like dogs, depends on the level of socialization they live with?

Perfectly put. I think there's a lot of livestock type of animals that really can compare to a dog. People not familiar with horses are always amazed when they can be friendly and interested in you. Like you say about the socialization, it does depend on how they live and how they're trained. Some people never hand feed their horses because they feel they will nip and bite at you because they're always looking for a treat. That could be true, but not with mine. I'm always hand feeding them and of course they are always looking for something. But not one of them has ever nipped at me or even been a nuisance looking for a treat. And there would be hell to pay if they did! Just like correcting a dog.

Just like no dog is alike, I'm cautious in letting anyone, especially children with their small hand, hand feed my boy, Stilts. Hes just a bit 'grabbier' when trying to get a treat. But the two mares are very gentle.

Anyone that walks up to the Corral and stands there will be greeted by the three of them. Again, partially because they think you have something for them. But they're always very friendly. I always get comments from people saying they are so friendly.

I'm sure you've seen pictures of Annie with them. She has been around them since she was a puppy so she's pretty good with them. Sometimes she wants to jump up to their face but none of them have ever done anything that even suggested retaliation. The other day one of the horses was in the aisle in the barn and Annie walked under them. Too fast for me to take a picture. I don't really condone that but it happened too fast for me to even correct her. But the horse didn't even flinch. I think it was my boy, Stilts. He's used to me walking under him!

I would never allow the dogs to chase the horses. That's just causes problems. At night when I bring them in from the Corral to the barn I generally just opened the gate and let all three run out and they all run into the barn, into their respective stalls. Sometimes in the summer they will stop and graze on some of the grass. But usually they know grain is waiting for them in their stall and they run in. Sometimes Annie runs alongside them one of them, sometimes almost getting in the way. But they all seem to be respectful of each other. My horses have lived through three Dobermans actually. So maybe it's getting to be old hat. LOL

 

[JanS]

I think there's a lot of livestock type of animals that really can compare to a dog. People not familiar with horses are always amazed when they can be friendly and interested in you. Like you say about the socialization, it does depend on how they live and how they're trained

That's is very true. Our horses have all been friendly with strangers with the exception of the black witch App we had. She was just evil with a terrible temperament. LOL

The horses who live where the FDC is held are all mellow, even though Steph says the one mini they have can be a little bugger once it a while. He more keeps his distance though.